Cemetery vandalism
information
drying up
The reward money has grown to $35,000
By Linda Aragon
Star-BulletinPolice Capt. Doug Miller answers every telephone call in anticipation that he'll hear the vital piece of information to find the people responsible for vandalizing seven Oahu cemeteries last month. But lately calls have slowly trickled in, as few as two a day, Miller said.
Yesterday, Mayor Jeremy Harris announced the reward money has grown to $35,000 for information leading to the arrest of vandals who spray-painted obscenities on Windward and Honolulu cemeteries, including the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl on April 19-20. The cemeteries are now clean.
"Hopefully with the public being aware of the sizable reward, that will encourage someone to come forth that may have some confidential information," said Miller, head of the task force investigating the vandalism.
Police have joined forces with the FBI to search for suspects. Earlier in the investigation, an estimated 60 people were working on the case. Now Miller said about 15 police officers are investigating the vandalism. The number of FBI agents on the case are unknown; however, a month ago Special Agent John Schiman called this the FBI's No. 1 priority.
During the first week the crime was committed, Miller said police were receiving about 10 to 15 calls a day from people offering information, such as descriptions of cars they saw near the cemeteries that night.
Nearly one month later, Police Chief Michael Nakamura said, "There is a lack of information coming in, and I find that very unusual for a case of this type of notoriety, especially with the reward being up to $35,000."
Nakamura said the police do have some "very exciting" leads that could result in the arrest of more than three people. He said police believe five to seven people were involved in the vandalism.
Miller said his task force is meeting every day and exchanging ideas with the FBI. He said the FBI is still analyzing paint samples and working on a profile of the type of person that would have committed this crime.
About 40 donors contributed to the $35,000 reward. Donors include: the Bank of Hawaii; the American Japanese Council, made up of Oahu AJA veterans; funds Mayor Harris raised; anonymous sources; and a $5,000 donation made by the Veteran's Affairs Office, from the estate of an Army veteran who's cremated remains were among one of Punchbowl's memorial markers that were defaced.
If you have any information about the vandalism at Oahu cemeteries, call police at: Assist police
CrimeStoppers: 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone
